Abstract

To the Editor: In Chris Bateman's Izindaba article entitled 'Consciously cutting to the bone of SA's surgical/anaesthetic delivery', Dr Joe Pahla is quoted as saying 'It was "critical" to put together a package of basic surgical skills that could be used in district and regional hospitals.' Of the challenges faced in rural medicine, it is surgery in particular that can engender feelings of lack of confidence, incompetence and anxiety.